The Vocational Rehabilitation Program Evaluation is one of a series of evaluations conducted by the Veterans Administration under title 38 U.S.C., $219. Pursuant to $219, the purpose of the evaluation was the measurement and analysis of the impact of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program, in order to determine its effectiveness in achieving stated goals in general, and in achieving such goals in relation to their cost, their impact on related programs, and their structure and mechanisms for delivery of services. The purpose of this

report is to provide the appropriate committees of Congress with information and data resulting from the evaluation.

B. Major Findings and Conclusions

The overall goal of providing satisfactory vocational training to disabled veterans is being accomplished.

2. Significant improvements can be made in the following areas:

3.

The VA is currently developing a new concept of rehabilitation stressing the comprehensive and unitary nature of the rehabilitation process with suitable employment rather than completion of training as the Vocational Rehabilitation Program goal.`

The evaluation of the Veterans Administration (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation Program was conducted as prescribed by $219 of title 38, U.S.C. This mandate requires assessment of (1) the program's achievement of stated goals in general, (2) achievement of such goals in relation to their cost, (3) the program's structure and mechanism for delivery of services, and (4) its impact on related programs.

The basic framework for the evaluation of the program consisted of one broad goal, eight program objectives, and twenty measurement criteria. Other areas covered in the evaluation include the management information system, the records system, and the work measurement system for the Chapter 31 program. The evaluation team also studied the overlap between the Chapter 31 and Chapter 34 programs. Finally, the evaluation examined the employment and readjustment problems of disabled Vietnam Era veterans through a major survey.*

C. Limitations

This program evaluation does not explicitly compare the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program to the Federal-State Rehabilitation Program, since a 1978 Department of Veterans Benefits Report went into this area in great detail.

The methodology used for the evaluation of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program included several different types of data and data

gathering activities. The primary data gathering phase invol into the history, background, and development of the program in legislation, regulations and program policy. During this evaluation team interviewed program officials in Education an tion Service, Department of Veterans Benefits (DVB), and also rehabilitation issues with officials in Rehabilitation Medici and Mental Health and Behavorial Sciences Service of the Depa Medicine and Surgery (DM&S). Officials of interested service tions were consulted and other Federal agencies with function rehabilitation area were contacted for their views.

The team made research visits to the Baltimore, Pittsbur Paul Regional Offices to familiarize itself with the actual o the program and to ascertain problem areas deserving attentio Data Processing Center at St. Paul was visited to inspect the tenance and control system for Chapter 31.

The research phase also involved a review of the literat with rehabilitation as related to the VA program. A bibliogr works containing worthwhile reference material is attached as to this study. Of special interest was the literature derivi regional centers for rehabilitation research set up in recent Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and from contrac RSA for outside studies in the rehabilitation area. A number ters were contacted and the evaluation team received copies of handbooks, and other materials directly bearing on the theory of evaluation in the rehabilitation area.

After preliminary research provided a sound overall view gram, more intensive discussions were held with program manage tify and specify in clear terms the goal and objectives of the This included meetings with the Counseling and Rehabilitation Central Office and, for rehabilitation services under DM&S ju representatives of Rehabilitation Medicine Service and Psycho Although this study does not involve an evaluation of DM&S pr was felt useful to obtain DM&S input on objectives and criter activities are closely linked with and essential to DVB progra